𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 — tainted flesh

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 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 solid ground and beaming sunlight was a welcoming feeling when they had all exited the torn-up train; Aleksa had exited upon shaking legs that felt as though they'd buckle with the slightest of weight. She was sick of it.

 Aleksa Corvina knew who she was; she was a Shadow Summoner, she was a thief, and she was a crow. But she was not weak. Weakness had never been a feeling she welcomed, and it had so scarcely been a part of her life after leaving the Little Palace.

 Her bleak childhood had been filled with fear; from the images of children older, taller and stronger than herself balling their fists and ready to strike, to the names they'd call her when her eyes flashed with something dark. They had ruined her worth as a child, and it had taken years for her to recover.

 They had made her... Empty. A child that had cried so many tears that she couldn't will her eyes to water, a child that had been outcast so very much that she had little idea of how to interact with others.

 Aleksander had taught her everything she needed to know about being human, about being Grisha. From the way she carried herself, to bottling up fear, replacing that feeling by instead dressing oneself up with intimidation. He had taught her to fight, to stand up for herself... but that was not to say he was gentle in his means.

 Memories of raw cuts and lashings on her arms made her shiver, the thoughts of bruises lingering on her flesh when she hadn't performed to his unbeatable standard... But that was all for her safety and out of a place of love. That's what she told herself, and it's what her poor and desperate heart believed.

 From the moment she had slipped from the Little Place under the guise of the shadows, Aleksa had built herself up higher than Aleksander had ever tried. It had always seemed that whilst he was harsh and insistent that she grew and prospered, he had... held back. It felt as though he restrained himself from making her into the person she was now... that she had been kept on a leash.

 Ketterdam was not for the weak-minded or weak-willed. For one to live and thrive under the smog that coated Ketterdams skies, they had to be strong. That was Aleksa. Strong.

 She could fight, she could pinch things from unsuspecting pigeons and she could charm her way out of a locked box. Aleksa had always been a woman who showed others nothing but her dazzling smiles and coy grins; or if one decided to test her, she'd show her teeth and greet them with the skin of her knuckles.

 She had parted from the crows after her boots had touched solid ground. They had all found themselves in a pub made of cobble, a thatched roof to keep the warmth of the fire within. Kaz, Inej and Jesper had beelined for the bar with a craving for something strong to line their stomachs and quell their racing hearts, all the while thinking that Aleksa would follow.

 She had diverged from them and shuffled her way through the crowd as her hand lingered on her throbbing side. There was a small bathroom, a single basin that had a rusted tap laid to the very back of the room.

 She didn't hesitate to fill the sink with cold water, splashing handfuls over her warm cheeks. The droplets trailed down her neck and soaked the hairs that billowed around her cheekbones. Her eyes met the reflection of herself in the mirror and it was as though she had been thrown into her childhood once more.

 Her skin was often lined with a glow that stemmed from her Summoning abilities; it made her cheeks pink and flushed, made her eyes glow like glaciers... Now she looked like a corpse. Her skin had paled immensely and all pink had been banished from her cheeks.

 Even her eyes were dull; from glistening lakes that rippled with light ocean waves to nothing more than a murky puddle left behind after the downpour of autumn rain. Her heart still raged beneath her ribcage, thudding loud enough that Aleksa was almost certain she could hear it.

 She shed the coat that draped over her body once more, folding it carefully before placing it beside the basin; it still smelled like Kaz; the scent of bitter coffee clung to the collar whilst the lapels were doused in something similar to juniper; a stark contrast to the floral rose that lingered on her skin.

 Her fingers shook as she plucked the right suspender from her shoulder, watching as it lifelessly fell by her side and swung by her calf. She almost clawed at the hem of her shirt, pulling it free from the waistband of her trousers and hitching it higher until her lips closed around the edge. Her bare skin was on display, reflecting in the mirror; and whilst any man or woman would have utterly melted at the sight, Aleksa stared in discomfort at the three long claw marks that tainted her flesh.

 The scars looked like pearls, glistening beneath the dull light that flickered above her. They were sealed completely by the healer she'd sought out all those months ago, and yet still they felt as though they were fresh. It wouldn't have surprised her if she'd found that blood had been oozing from the marks, as if they'd suddenly torn open to taunt her again. The sting was in her mind, chasing her through the Fold like a nightmare.

 She parted her lips, eyes closing as the fabric of her shirt fell down, hanging limply over her frame.

 It's done, Aleksa chanted in her head, we made it.

 The thought should have brought some comfort, yet none decided to appease her for she knew they'd have to cross the billowing darkness once more when they finally hauled the Sun Summoner back to Ketterdam. It almost felt selfish to elate at the thought that the Sun Summoner could grant them safe passage through the Fold, only for them to toss her aside for a stack of Kruge. But if life — and Ketterdam — had taught Aleksa anything; it was that one had to be selfish in order to survive.

 Aleksa welcomed the soft brush of warm air as she exited the mildew-coated bathroom; everything was back in its place and her shield was bare of any crack it had received on their journey through the fold.

 The unkempt waves of her hair had been brushed out and now they rippled softly down her back, swaying against the dark material of Kaz's coat. Her shirt had been stuffed back into her waistband, her suspender clinging back onto her shoulder and — for good measure — she had popped another button open on her chest.

 Her fingers had pinched at the apples of her cheeks, bringing a fresh burst of pink to her skin whilst she plastered on a glorious smile and twisted through the patrons of the bar.

 Inej and Jesper had their backs to her; Jesper likely hunched over a small shot glass filled to the brim with burning alcohol, whilst Inej was surely nibbling away on something sweet. Kaz, however, had his gaze set out on the crowd, eyes filled with decaying oak met her own.

 She skirted to and fro, waving people off with the brush of a hand when they bumped into her; had she not taken that short moment for herself in the bathroom, her knuckles might have collided with their cheeks.

 The burning stare that dug into her skin was ignored as she hopped onto the dirtied fabric of the barstool; it must have been a vibrant apple-red at some point, though now it was as dark as aged wine.

 There was a glass ready and waiting for her, and the familiar smell of sour cherry burned into her sinuses. Sugar clung to the rim of the glass and a cherry bobbed in the liquid.

 Her attention finally fell to Kaz who knew her preference well, "Thank you, pretty boy."

 Back again was the light tone of her voice; it was devoid of all cracks and breaks that had made themselves known in the midst of their journey. Kaz eyed her, he knew she had donned her mask once more, yet even so he tried to find the cracks... only to come up completely empty. For some reason, it infuriated him.

 He nodded once and contemplated asking if she was alright; it was no longer a secret to any of the crows —or Arken for that matter — that Aleksa could not keep up her usual attitude when facing the fold. They all had their fears, ones that brought them to their knees, yet Aleksa's had always been so very thoroughly hidden.

 Her drink had been knocked back within a second, and even Jesper stared with wide eyes as she placed the chipped glass back onto the sticky counter, nodding to the barman when he asked if she wanted another.

 Aleksa could feel their eyes and simply rolled her own as she tossed her hair over her shoulder, purposely ensuring that it got dangerously close to battering Kaz around his perfect cheekbones. Her hand darted out, crossing over Jesper, and waited with wiggling fingers until Inej handed her one of the biscuits she had been nibbling on.

 "So then," Aleksa chimed with a mouthful of her biscuit as she made a mental reminder to fish out the crumb that slipped into her shirt. She rounded on Kaz, her boots tapping away at the wooden stool, "What's the plan now?"

 The sounds of cheers erupted; the patrons of the bar had gathered around a stage with coins lining their pockets as they clapped and hooted at a group of performers. One was dangling from a rope, another was dressed in a horrendous green leotard that made Aleksa want to cry.

 But the noise of the happy patrons made it easier for the crows to discuss what was to proceed; how exactly Kaz Brekker planned to sneak his way inside the most secure place in all of Ravka.

 Aleks had given it some thought herself, after all, she had lived there... The only issue was that Aleksa had never lived inside the Palace. Those extravagant walls trimmed with gold were lined with rolling fields. There were lakes for Tidemakers to test their skills, patches of gravel and sand to ensure the Inferi didn't cause wildfires, and open land for the Squallors to do as they pleased.

 But at the very far side of those luscious fields that sprouted wildflowers and thrushes that produced berries amidst the warmer months was an old shack. From the outside, it seemed like an old boarded-up building that had been abandoned.

 Aleksander had stated that it had once been the Queen's private room, a place for her to 'getaway' as though the Queen needed such a place when the Little Palace was already considered a 'getaway'. Nonetheless, the building had been left to rot over time, vines and plants had weaved around it like a cloak and time had eaten away at the wood.

 But to Aleksa, that was home. She had been kept away from the Palace and the Grisha within; so few knew of her existence.

 So when Aleksa had slumped in the carriage to ponder a means of entry, she came up empty. There were guards everywhere, and the only reason she'd been able to get herself out all that time ago was thanks to the shadows that shielded her from view.

 Sure, she could probably have easily gotten Kaz, Jesper, Inej and Arken through in the dead of night under the billowing shadows; but what then? Could she sneak them through bright halls all the while avoiding her brother?

 Arken joined them then, his heavy footsteps thudding against the wooden floor that was likely covered in spilt drinks and pastry crumbs.

 He paused by Kaz's side, and slapped a piece of paper onto the bar, "The Little Palace Winter fete. There's no way we can find a way to the Sun Summoner without Nina."

 "Oh ye of little faith, dear Arken." Aleksa drawled out as she plucked the cherry from her drink and twirled the stalk, "Why don't you take a page out of Inej's book?"

 A biscuit landed on her sleeve, how courteous of the Wraith.

 Arken's eye twitched and Aleksa almost grinned at him, instead she popped the cherry into her mouth, chewing slowly whilst Arken cleared his throat, his eyes flicking away"The Little Palace will be crawling with Second Army."

 Aleksa bit her tongue as she and Kaz shared a look; both had agreed that Arken was a liability; but he was one they presently needed. Aleksa had no way to sneak them through the gates of the Palace, and the crows had never even seen the damn place... so the job fell to Arken.

 Kaz cleared his throat; for whilst he had made it back before Aleksa, the Bastard of the Barrel had done his usual sniffing about, "It turns out that the Kribirks achieves houses the Little Palace blueprints." he paused, gauging Arkens reaction and the man in question almost seemed to deflate, "They are kept under lock and key. Far away from the prying eyes of the masses."

 Aleksa and Jesper turned to each other with break-neck speed, each sporting cheshire-like grins.

 "Yes!" Hooted Jesper, his hands clapping together, spraying the remnants of sugar that lingered on his fingertips onto the bar.

 Inej shook her head, but a smile was there nonetheless... And even Kaz Brekker couldn't keep the corner of his lip from rising skyward.

 In all of the excitement — which was a very loose term, but Aleksa didn't want to think much of the Volcra again — Aleksa had almost forgotten how it felt to dive headfirst into a heist. The meticulous planning as each of the crows tossed ideas to one another, watching as Kaz pieced the puzzle together. The excitement that buzzed over their skin and jolted their bones as they donned silly costumes and hid themselves in plain sight.

 Inej had always been the one to reel them all back in, crossing out ridiculously dangerous plans that often came from Jesper's excitement; but all of them looked forward to seeing that gleam within Kaz's dark eyes, the gleam that indicated it was time for a heist.

 Each crow always had their part to play; Inej was their spider; she was utterly silent and able to slip from corner to corner even under the spotlight of the sun. She was unrivalled when it came to her knives, and each one had been meticulously sharpened before they departed.

 Jesper, their loud-mouthed and excitable sharpshooter was often the man placed on guard duty. He could charm and talk for as long as his stamina allowed. But nobody could best him in a gunfight.

 Kaz, their gracious leader and Aleksa's best distraction, led them into the heists; he picked locks and got them through doors, he swung his cane until bones could be heard shattering like glass... and he was very pretty to look at.

 Aleksa was an odd mixture when it came to their heists. The shadows moved at her will, and thus the crows found it easier than ever to slip into places beneath the moonlight far easier. They could move without a trace. But she was like Jesper too; when Aleksa opened her mouth, it was as though a siren's song fell from her wondrous lips. People gave her their undivided attention and practically fell to their knees before her as though she were a saint from legend.

 They weren't exactly the perfect team, for trust was a building thing, but they got their jobs done.

 Arken almost recoiled at the elated expressions upon their faces, with furrowed brows he leaned forwards, "What does that mean?"

 Jesper cackled, his fists pumping into the air before one of his gangly arms was tossed over Aleksa's shoulder. He beamed and she grinned back, the pair chiming in unison, "Time for a heist!"

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03-10-2022

:･ﾟ★ hi besties, sorry these updates are few and far between but i'm currently rewriting one of my old stories, and i'm really focusing just so i can get it done; if you're interested, it's a steve harrington fic and i'm in the midst of rewriting s3 before i start fresh with season 4. 

i'm not sure when i'll get back to my usual weekly updates for this book, but know that this, as well as pendulum, aren't being abandoned. they're just taking the back seat for a bit whilst i have a little break from them. luv u lots. <3

don't forget to let me know what you think; and remember that i now require a particular number of comments and feedback before i consider releasing the next part (this is just to ensure people remain engaged and supportive, as well as to allow me to see what you all enjoyed most!), and please do NOT leave comments telling me to update; they'll be ignored and you'll be muted, much love <3